Drawer frame

ABSTRACT

A drawer frame having at least one opening, which enables access to holding and adjusting devices respectively in the interior of the frame, wherein it is possible to close off the opening by a cover part, and wherein the cover part is mounted on the drawer frame such that it is movable, wherein the cover part is undetachably connected to the drawer frame in all operating positions.

The present invention relates to a drawer frame, in particular a double-walled drawer frame, having at least one opening, which is preferably provided on its outside, and which enables access to holding and adjusting devices respectively in the interior of the frame, wherein it is possible to close off the opening by a cover part.

Frames of this kind are used for example as side guides and/or side delimiters for drawers and other pull-out systems. In the interior of the frames—preferably at their distal end—holding and adjusting devices for connection to a further frame, a drawer panel, a drawer back wall, etc. may be provided. These devices that are mounted in the interior of the frame must be freely accessible during interventions, for example during a vertical or lateral adjustment thereof. For this purpose, openings are provided in the side wall of the frame which allow tools such as a screwdriver to pass through. For reasons of appearance, these openings are provided with a cover which may be placed over the openings, held there in clamping manner and when necessary removed for the performance of the desired interventions to the frame. The disadvantage of covers of this kind is the fact that they can easily become detached during the course of such adjustments or, as a result of a loss of elasticity in the clamping device over time, can no longer be held in the opening properly. Eventually, the covers no longer end flush with the frame but hang partly out of the openings and in the end are often lost completely.

The object of the invention to which the application relates is therefore to propose a cover part of the type mentioned at the outset which obviates the above-mentioned disadvantages.

In accordance with the invention, this is achieved in that the cover part is undetachably connected to the drawer frame in all operating positions.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, it may be provided for the cover part to be mounted on the drawer frame such that it is displaceable—preferably in the longitudinal direction thereof. This means that the cover part can be displaced in order to expose the openings and to enable tools to pass through. Once the intervention has been performed, the cover part can be put back into its closed position, in which it substantially completely covers the opening, giving a visually attractive appearance to the frame.

In relation to the movable mounting it may also be advantageous if the cover part is mounted on the drawer frame such that it is rotatable. If the structural conditions permit it, it may also be advantageous to provide a combination of a displaceable mounting with a rotary mounting of the cover part relative to the drawer frame.

In accordance with a further example embodiment, it may be provided for the cover part to be mounted such that it is movable along a slide track. In this case, the cover part may be guided in a defined track with little play and with guide pegs engaging in the slide track. Here, it may be advantageous if the slide track is made or arranged on the drawer frame itself, it being possible to achieve this by appropriate bending processes or by cutting the frame to the appropriate shape as early on as during the process of manufacturing the frame. In just the same way, the embodiment may be such that the slide track is made or arranged within a border—which preferably resembles a framework—which may be attached to the drawer frame as a separate part.

Advantageously, it is provided for at least one stop to be provided which delimits the path of movement of the cover part with respect to the drawer frame, at least in one and preferably in both directions. As a result of this, the cover part has a defined range of opening so that any overstretching of spring-loaded devices is also prevented.

It is particularly favorable if, in the open condition, the cover part lies at least partly in the interior of the drawer frame. Here, during the opening procedure the cover part is displaced gradually into the interior of the frame, which has the effect that it can effectively be prevented from being sheared off at the outer surface of the frame by objects exerting a force.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is produced by providing at least one spring device which brings the cover part into a position in which it substantially completely covers the opening of the drawer frame. Here, it may be advantageous if a spring device acts on the cover part with a closing force so that the cover part is not moved during opening and closing of the drawer. Favorably, the spring device moves the cover part into its closed position, in which it completely covers the opening, from any position along the path of opening.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided for the cover part to be non-detachably connected to the drawer frame in all operating positions.

Further details and advantages of the present invention will be explained in more detail below with the aid of the description of the figures, given with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 1 b show a solution, which is known from the prior art, of a cover part for covering openings in a drawer frame,

FIGS. 2 a-2 c show an example embodiment of a drawer frame having a cover part according to the invention, in various views,

FIGS. 3 a-3 c show a chronological sequence of the position of the cover part according to the invention during the opening procedure, and

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show an example of an embodiment of a cover part according to the invention which is guided in a framework within a slide track.

FIG. 1 a and FIG. 1 b show a solution, which is known from the prior art, of a cover part 2. FIG. 1 a shows a cover part 2 which is covering one or more openings 4. The openings 4 in the drawer frame 1 are provided so that the holding and adjusting devices 5 which are arranged in the interior of the drawer frame 1—but which are not shown in this figure—can be reached and operated with the aid of a suitable tool. Conventionally, the cover part 2 is made from synthetic material and is provided on the rear side thereof with holding lugs 3 which in the mounted condition project into at least some of the openings 4 and secure the cover part 2 to the drawer frame 1 by clamping. The disadvantage here is that the cover part 2 can easily be detached or that, as a result of wear, breakage or loss of the resilient action of the holding lugs 3, reliable fixing to the drawer frame 1 is no longer possible.

FIG. 2 a shows a perspective illustration of a drawer frame 1 having a cover part 2 according to the invention which covers one or more openings 4 on the outside of the drawer frame 1. FIG. 2 b shows a detail of a distal end of the drawer frame 1. FIG. 2 c shows a front view of the drawer frame 1 with holding and adjusting devices 5, for example, indicated in the interior of the drawer frame 1. No further details will be given about these holding and adjusting devices 5 in the course of the present description, and thus they may comprise any devices which are known from the prior art. FIG. 2 a and FIG. 2 b show the cover part 2 in a slightly open position. A latching projection 9 of resilient construction may be provided, to detachably fix the cover part 2 in the closed position.

FIGS. 3 a to 3 c show a chronological sequence of various positions of the cover part 2 during the opening procedure. FIG. 3 a shows the cover part 2 in the closed position, whereas FIG. 3 c shows the cover part 2 in the open position. The cover part 2 is mounted on the drawer frame 1 such that it is displaceable in the longitudinal direction thereof. It should be noted that in the open position, shown in FIG. 3 c, the cover part 2 lies for the most part in the interior of the drawer frame 1, as a result of which the cover part 2 can be protected from objects that move past. This means that it can be effectively prevented from being sheared off. In FIG. 3 c, a spring device 6 which is in the form of a closing spring is also shown by way of example. In this case, the embodiment may be such that the cover part 2 is always drawn in the direction of its closed position. If the cover part 2 is to be held in the open position, locking devices—which are not illustrated—may be provided for this purpose. This simplifies the adjustment work on the drawer frame 2, since it is not necessary to hold the cover part 2 in its open position, in opposition to the force of the spring, with one hand.

FIG. 4 a shows an example of an embodiment of a cover part 2 which is mounted such that it is displaceable within a framework-like border 7 in non-detachable manner. The framework-like border 7 may be formed from synthetic material and may be attached to the drawer frame 1 as a separate part. For the purpose of displaceably mounting the cover part 2, a slide track 8 is provided which is in the form of an S shape on the upper and lower sides of the framework, with the result that the cover part 2 can be displaced into the interior of the frame 1 during the opening procedure. FIG. 4 b shows the framework-like border 7 and the cover part 2 in an exploded illustration. For the purpose of precise guidance and holding, pins 10 are provided, which in the mounted position engage in the slide track 8 which is provided. The cover part 2 may thus be guided along a predetermined defined track. To delimit the path of movement, there may be provided a stop 11 which in the example embodiment shown is formed by a side wall of the framework-like border 7. In the completely open position, the narrow end face of the cover part 2 cooperates with the stop 11.

The invention is not restricted to the example embodiments shown but includes or extends to all technical equivalents that fall within the scope of the claims below. The specifications made with regard to positions which have been selected in the description, such as top, bottom, lateral, etc., moreover relate to the figure which is directly described and presented, and in the case of a change in position these should be transferred to the new position appropriately. Although it is true that a preferred example embodiment provides for the opening 4 which is to be covered by the cover part 2 to be arranged at the distal ends of the drawer frame 1, in principle the cover part 2 may be applied to any positions on the drawer frame 1, including the upper side thereof, to cover openings that are to be closed off. 

1. A drawer frame having at least one opening, which enables access to holding and adjusting devices respectively in the interior of the frame, wherein it is possible to close off the opening by a cover part, and wherein the cover part is mounted on the drawer frame such that it is movable, wherein the cover part is undetachably connected to the drawer frame in all operating positions.
 2. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover part is mounted on the drawer frame such that it is displaceable.
 3. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cover part is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the drawer frame.
 4. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover part is mounted on the drawer frame such that it is rotatable.
 5. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover part is mounted such that it is movable along a slide track.
 6. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 5, wherein the slide track is made or arranged on the drawer frame itself.
 7. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 5, wherein the slide track is made or arranged within a border which may be attached to the drawer frame as a separate part.
 8. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 7, wherein the border resembles a framework.
 9. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one stop is provided which delimits the path of movement of the cover part with respect to the drawer frame, at least in one direction.
 10. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 9, wherein the stop delimits the path of movement of the cover part in both directions.
 11. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening is made or arranged in the front end region of the drawer frame.
 12. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the open condition, the cover part lies at least partly in the interior of the drawer frame.
 13. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one spring device is provided which brings the cover part into a position in which it substantially completely covers the opening of the drawer frame.
 14. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drawer frame is a double-walled drawer frame.
 15. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening is provided on the outside of the drawer frame. 